Never in history has any industry witnessed as many changes and evolutions as marketing.
New channels, tools, and platforms are popping up like dogs in Indian streets every day. As a result of which, the audience demands change quickly. The competition is finding new ways to engage and attract customers; what about your organisation?
The idea is not to replace older methods of advertising. The digital ways are an addition to them. However, since the introduction of these digital ways of advertising, organisations have a choice to make between traditional and digital marketing.
Those who have pursued a digital marketing certification course online stand by the digital ways. But what about others? So let’s discover the differences between digital marketing and traditional marketing.
What is Traditional Marketing?
As the name suggests, traditional marketing includes all marketing channels that were used before the introduction of online advertising. Simply put, it all about reaching big numbers – the more people see your ad, the more leads you attract.
Traditional marketing channels include:-
- Outdoor (Billboards, bus/taxi wraps, posters etc.)
- Broadcasting (TV, Radio etc.)
- Print (Magazines, newspapers etc.)
- Direct Mail (catalogues etc.)
- Telemarketing (Phone, text messages)
- Window display and signs
What is Digital Marketing?
About two decades ago, digital marketing emerged as a simple concept of ads on the internet. However, over time and years, it has grown into so much more than that – it has become a strategy that leverages online tools, platforms, and channels to promote a product/service. All advertising, communicating, and engaging is done via the internet to entice the target audience.
That’s right; you can set your own target audience with digital marketing. You don’t have to advertise to millions of people, so a few hundred of them can take action. Advertising in the age of digital is different; you can target and advertise to only those looking for similar product/services.
Digital marketing channels include:-
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram etc.)
- Website
- Content marketing
- Affiliate marketing
- Inbound marketing
- Email marketing
- PPC (pay per click
- SEM (Search engine marketing)
Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing: Key Differences Based on:-
- Target Audience
With traditional marketing, it is easy to reach out to a local audience with methods like flyers, billboards, etc. But what about those who don’t live near your outlet?
That’s where digital marketing steps in. It lets you reach the targeted audience from all over the world. If you strive to learn in-depth about digital marketing, its tools and techniques, consider enrolling for a credible digital marketing certification course online.
- Marketing Approach
Traditional marketing uses more of a personal approach as it includes developing a person-to-person relationship with the public.
Contrarily, the physical presence of the marketers is not at all a requirement in digital marketing. What’s more, it allows marketers to reach a finite number of consumers easily.
The XLRI PG certificate program in digital marketing can help you embark on your journey in the digital domain. By helping you learn how to leverage various digital marketing channels, this course from XLRI enables you to gain a 360-degree understanding of the why, what, and how of digital marketing.
- Documentation and Analysis
There is no way to keep a count on how many people saw your billboard or read the flyer in traditional marketing. Moreover, it can take days, weeks or even months to get the result.
On the other hand, every move, every click, and every visitor is tracked meticulously in digital marketing. And by using analytics tools, you can tap into this data anytime from anywhere to get real-time results on your marketing efforts.
When it comes to learning about analysis and documentation of digital marketing efforts, several online courses are available on the world wide web that can help you. However, the one course that most professionals are turning to for expert guidance is the XLRI PG certificate program in digital marketing. By providing LIVE sessions by the eminent XLRI faculty, this course helps you gain hands-on experience in various digital marketing tools across several channels, enabling you to move profitably against the competition.
- Consumer Interaction
How much interaction do you think a newspaper ad or poster can provide? Very less.
Needless to say, traditional marketing, as a medium, includes very less interaction with the customer as the channels used are not flexible enough to incorporate one.
On the other hand, digital marketing offers marketers and businesses several ways to connect with the customer, from forums, Facebook groups to Google reviews.
An accredited digital marketing certification course online from XLRI can help you understand the importance of customer interaction, how to do it, and why it is imperative for every business owner must learn digital marketing.
- Marketing Cost
Posting an ad in the newspaper or an online ad, which one do you think is cheaper?
You’re absolutely right; traditional marketing is expensive as it entails printing and TV advertisements. Digital marketing, on the other hand, is less costly as everything is online. Moreover, the use of social websites is not going to cost you a single penny. You can, however, use paid ads if you want to. But even those are not as expensive as printing an ad in the newspaper.
- Real-time Results
Another difference between traditional and digital marketing, an important one actually, is the ability to offer real-time results.
With traditional marketing, companies have to wait for weeks or even months to get the results of their marketing efforts. Contrarily, digital marketing gives quick results and thus, it is easy to get real-time data from digital marketing efforts.
There are tools like Google Analytics and SEO analyser tools you can leverage to stay on top of your campaigns. However, a basic understanding and applications of the tools are necessary. A digital marketing certification course online from XLRI can help you gain this knowledge.
Which One are You Going to Choose?
Digital marketing that’s more effective, cost-friendly, and easier to analyse or traditional marketing which is expensive, doesn’t allow targeted marketing, and is significantly difficult to keep track of?
Make the right choice, the wiser choice.
If you’ve chosen digital marketing, the next step would be to enrol for a credible online course. The XLRI PG certificate program in digital marketing is ideal for every professional ranging from an intern to an established marketer, even entrepreneurs. So scour the Talentedge website for this incredible online course and enrol yourself TODAY!
